Patents by Inventor Gregory A. Erickson

Gregory A. Erickson has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20260184490
    Abstract: An actuator is disclosed for actuating an aerosol valve for dispensing an aerosol product from an aerosol container. The actuator comprises an actuator button being rotatable relative to a base for movement between a locked rotational position stop and an unlocked rotational position stop. The actuator button is movable relative to the base for actuating the aerosol valve to dispense the aerosol product when the actuator button is rotated into a unlocked rotational position. The actuator button is inhibited from actuating the aerosol valve when the actuator button is moved into a locked rotational position. In one embodiment, an arcuate projection inhibits unintended movement of the actuator button between the unlocked rotational position and the locked rotational position. In another embodiment, a linear projection inhibits unintended movement of the actuator button between the unlocked rotational position and the locked rotational position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2026
    Publication date: July 2, 2026
    Inventors: Sean Cho, Gerald J. Marquardt, Gregory A. Erickson
  • Patent number: 12577034
    Abstract: An actuator is disclosed for actuating an aerosol valve for dispensing an aerosol product from an aerosol container. The actuator comprises an actuator button being rotatable relative to a base for movement between a locked rotational position stop and an unlocked rotational position stop. The actuator button is movable relative to the base for actuating the aerosol valve to dispense the aerosol product when the actuator button is rotated into a unlocked rotational position. The actuator button is inhibited from actuating the aerosol valve when the actuator button is moved into a locked rotational position. In one embodiment, an arcuate projection inhibits unintended movement of the actuator button between the unlocked rotational position and the locked rotational position. In another embodiment, a linear projection inhibits unintended movement of the actuator button between the unlocked rotational position and the locked rotational position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2026
    Inventors: Sean Cho, Gerald J. Marquardt, Gregory A. Erickson
  • Patent number: 12077356
    Abstract: A dispensing system (40) includes a body (54) having an outer wall (64) defining a volume for storing a substance, the outer wall (64) having a top end (66) and a sealed bottom end (70). The top end (66) is covered by a flexible lid (56) that is attached to the body (54). The lid (56) has a press portion (88) for being engaged to move the lid (56) from a first position into a second, deflected position. A post (58) is connected to the lid (56) and is configured in the second position of the lid (56) to breach the sealed bottom end (70) forming a dispensing orifice (80) to accommodate movement of a substance out of the body (54). In one form, the outer wall (64) includes at least one bottle stop projection (218) defining one or more vent channels (219).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2024
    Assignee: AptarGroup, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory A. Erickson, Kelly A. Smith, Curt Prusko, Katherine Schomberg, James W. Hammond
  • Publication number: 20240051731
    Abstract: An actuator is disclosed for actuating an aerosol valve for dispensing an aerosol product from an aerosol container. The actuator comprises an actuator button being rotatable relative to a base for movement between a locked rotational position stop and an unlocked rotational position stop. The actuator button is movable relative to the base for actuating the aerosol valve to dispense the aerosol product when the actuator button is rotated into a unlocked rotational position. The actuator button is inhibited from actuating the aerosol valve when the actuator button is moved into a locked rotational position. In one embodiment, an arcuate projection inhibits unintended movement of the actuator button between the unlocked rotational position and the locked rotational position. In another embodiment, a linear projection inhibits unintended movement of the actuator button between the unlocked rotational position and the locked rotational position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2023
    Publication date: February 15, 2024
    Inventors: Sean Cho, Gerald J. Marquardt, Gregory A. Erickson
  • Publication number: 20240051732
    Abstract: An aerosol dispenser is disclosed for actuating an aerosol valve comprising a base and an actuator. A container mount secures the base to an aerosol container. A base opening is in the base. A nozzle coupled to the actuator extends between the aerosol valve and a terminal orifice. An actuator mount secures the actuator to the base. The terminal orifice aligns with the base opening for defining a dispensing position. The terminal orifice is non-aligning with the base opening for defining a non-dispensing position. The actuator is pivotably displaced for positioning the actuator between the dispensing position and the non-dispensing position. A primary base pivot terminator is in the base. A primary actuator pivot terminator is in the actuator. The primary base pivot terminator abuts with the primary actuator pivot terminator for defining an interlock and terminating pivoting of the actuator in the dispensing position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2023
    Publication date: February 15, 2024
    Inventors: Sean Cho, Gerald J. Marquardt, Julie de Ponsay, Gregory A. Erickson
  • Publication number: 20230091031
    Abstract: A dispensing system (40) includes a body (54) having an outer wall (64) defining a volume for storing a substance, the outer wall (64) having a top end (66) and a sealed bottom end (70). The top end (66) is covered by a flexible lid (56) that is attached to the body (54). The lid (56) has a press portion (88) for being engaged to move the lid (56) from a first position into a second, deflected position. A post (58) is connected to the lid (56) and is configured in the second position of the lid (56) to breach the sealed bottom end (70) forming a dispensing orifice (80) to accommodate movement of a substance out of the body (54). In one form, the outer wall (64) includes at least one bottle stop projection (218) defining one or more vent channels (219).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2021
    Publication date: March 23, 2023
    Inventors: Gregory A. Erickson, Kelly A. Smith, Curt Prusko, Katherine Schomberg, James W. Hammond
  • Patent number: 10435227
    Abstract: A trigger operated aerosol dispenser is disclosed for dispensing an aerosol product from an aerosol container through an aerosol valve. The trigger operated aerosol dispenser comprises a base secured to the aerosol container with a dispensing head mounted to the base. A nozzle extends through the dispensing head for communicating the aerosol valve with a terminal orifice. A trigger actuator extends from the dispensing head for actuating the aerosol valve upon depression of the trigger actuator to dispense the aerosol product from the terminal orifice. The trigger operated aerosol dispenser may incorporate a lock for inhibiting the trigger from actuating the aerosol valve. In one example, the trigger operated aerosol dispenser may be actuated in an alternate manner upon a depression of the dispensing head. Preferably, the trigger operated aerosol dispenser is formed from a two piece unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: AptarGroup, Inc
    Inventors: Gregory A. Erickson, Geraid J. Marquardt, Sean Cho, Bernd Blumenstein, Bernhard Jasper, Paul Hallman
  • Publication number: 20150090736
    Abstract: An aerosol spout dispenser is disclosed for dispensing an aerosol product from an aerosol container through an aerosol valve. The aerosol spout dispenser comprises a base secured to the aerosol container with a dispensing head mounted to the base. A dispensing spout extends outwardly from the dispensing head beyond the mounting cup of the aerosol container. A depression of the dispensing head actuates the aerosol valve to dispense the aerosol product from a terminal orifice. A dispensing head retainer cooperates with a base retainer for inhibiting separation of the dispensing head from the base when a separating force is applied between the dispensing head and the base. An auxiliary latching mechanism inhibits separation of the dispensing head from the base when a separating force is applied between the dispensing spout and the base.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2014
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Inventors: Gregory A. Erickson, Gerald J. Marquardt, Sean Cho
  • Publication number: 20130277397
    Abstract: A trigger operated aerosol dispenser is disclosed for dispensing an aerosol product from an aerosol container through an aerosol valve. The trigger operated aerosol dispenser comprises a base secured to the aerosol container with a dispensing head mounted to the base. A nozzle extends through the dispensing head for communicating the aerosol valve with a terminal orifice. A trigger actuator extends from the dispensing head for actuating the aerosol valve upon depression of the trigger actuator to dispense the aerosol product from the terminal orifice. The trigger operated aerosol dispenser may incorporate a lock for inhibiting the trigger from actuating the aerosol valve. In one example, the trigger operated aerosol dispenser may be actuated in an alternate manner upon a depression of the dispensing head. Preferably, the trigger operated aerosol dispenser is formed from a two piece unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2013
    Publication date: October 24, 2013
    Applicant: Aptar Group Inc
    Inventors: Gregory A. Erickson, Geraid J. Marquardt, Sean Cho, Bernd Blumenstein, Bernhard Jasper
  • Patent number: 6578201
    Abstract: A multimedia stream incorporating interactive support for multiple types of subscriber terminals. The multimedia stream is created by multiplexing several component streams. The component streams include a video stream, an audio stream, and an interactive data stream. The interactive data stream includes data specific to different types of subscriber terminals multiplexed together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2003
    Assignee: Diva Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Tobie J. LaRocca, Amy Yang, Gregory A. Erickson